Spring Gardening Tips – May

Did you manage to wait until after Mother’s day to put out plants? I finally managed it but only because I’ve been in the hospital this year! I did put out a few herbs into my big tin barrel on the East side of my home. They are doing just fine! Any time after the 15th you can start to sow seeds or plant six packs of seedlings. It’s always a good idea to plant early in the day or cool afternoons and not in full sun. The most important time in a seedlings life is when you put it in the ground so spend a little extra time now and it will pay big dividends in the end.

My favorite part of this month is seeing what great surprises my efforts of the last growing season are going to give me this year. I was pleasantly surprised by my Oriental Poppies that grew from seed. They are just gorgeous bright jewel colors.

Plant annuals and herbs at the same depth as in the container. Dig the hole 2 times the size of the pot and loosen the soil in the bottom. Fill the hole around the plant with the fill dirt, tamp down and water well. Pinch off all the flowers from annuals like petunias and pansies, to direct the nutrients to the roots of the plant for more blooms and healthier growth. Gently spread out the roots at the bottom of the pot so they will grow into the new soil. Water as the plant directions indicate and pay special attention to the new transplants for the first week.

Container plants and window boxes are also due, plant shade loving plants together, sun loving plants together and place accordingly. Your combination possibilities are endless. I like to change it up every year as the plants available change or my mood does. Choose from contrasting colors together or one color scheme in mass in several pots all grouped together. Don’t just think of the flowers, also look for interesting shapes, colors and texture of plants for each pot. Taller things in the back with trailing varieties spilling out the sides of the pot will add to an informal style.

Cut back all your fall flowering plants if you haven’t done that already and clear out all dead twigs throughout your garden. Dead head your Mum’s for increased flowering come August.

I try and grow Zinnias every year and they never work for me… I recently read that it’s better to plant by seed and I usually forget, so that’s my challenge for myself this summer… to get some zinnias’ to grow.